Air heating and humidifying gas burning furnace



Nov. 8, 1949 A. E. MILLER ETAL.

AIR HEATING AND HUMIDIFYINC- GAS BURNING FURNACE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 1, 1947 Nov. 8, 1949 A. E. MILLER ET AL AIR HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING GAS BURNING FURNACE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D86. 1, 1947 Nov. 8, 1949 A. E. MILLER ETAL.

AIR HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING GAS BURNING FURNACE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Des. l, 1947 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING GAS BURNING FURNACE Application December 1, 1947, Serial No. 789,110

6 Claims.

This invention relates to gas heaters and furnaces and more specifically to those types in which the humidity of the heated air may be controlled and adjusted as desired.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an improved gas heater which may be utilized either as a floor heater for suspension beneath the floor of a room or hall as disclosed in Patent 1,766,394, granted to A. B. Miller and W. H. Kellner on June 24, 1930, or as a central heating unit adapted to heat a number of rooms.

Another important object of the invention is to provide novel means for permitting the heated air to circulate about and around the gas burner and into the room or rooms of the building to be heated, and in which the air to be heated is closely associated with but entirely separated from the air utilized to support combustion in the burner.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of two or more superposed circular fume and air heating drums having outwardly disposed ring spaces and flow tubes for receiving the prodnets of combustion from the burner and conducting them to the exterior of the building, and at the same time providing means whereby water vapor may be mixed with the heated air in controlled quantities to insure the proper humidity of the building to be heated.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a water spout and vaporizing tube assembly in which the tube extends vertically through a combustion chamber and communicates with openings between the flow tubes of the upper fume and heating drum, whereby the water may be quickly vaporized and admixed with the heated air to provide very healthful and beneficial heating.

A still further object is to provide a gas furnace unit that can uti ize the old casing or walls of almost any conventional hot air heating plant.

A salient feature of this invention resides in the, novel manner in which all of the heater and furnace parts are constructed and arranged so that they may be easily and ouicklv assembled or disassembled. thus enab ing the un t to be quickly installed with a minimum of effort and greatly facilitating the cleaning and maintenance of the burner, water spout, combustion chamber and heating drums.

Further objects, advantages and features of invention and construction will appear from the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fi l is a vertical section of a gas furnace installation, taken on the line l--l of Fig. 2, looking iii in the direction of the arrows, and showing the flow paths of the products of combustion, heated air and water vapor;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the arrangement of two superposed fume chambers and heating drums;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating in particular the burner and water spout arrangement, and showing the gas and water inlets;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4! of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the top of the lower drum and the manner in which the water vapors and heated air are mixed; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, illustrating the novel arrangement of the heating drum and the separate courses for the products of combustion and the heated air.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates a heater installation which includes generally an outer casing 2|], a cylindrical combustion chamber 2!, a gas burner 22, a vaporizing tube 23, and two fume and heating drums 24 and 25, respectively.

l he outer casing 29 has a series of openings 26 around its lower peri hery through which fresh air is drawn to support combustion and for heating purposes as will be more fully explained in the operation of the furnace. The casing 28 is also provided with a flanged inner end 2! adapted either to fasten d rectly beneath a floor register as shown in Patent 1.766 394 or to be bolted or fastened to the dome structure of a conventional central heating plant having a blower, and a set of pi es and ducts for delivering heated air to a num er of rooms in a dwe l ng. When used as a central heating unit. the casing or walls of an obsolete central heat ng plant of almost any type may be substtuted for the casing 29. or, if t e old casing be very large. the whole unit inc uding the casing 26 may be placed in the old plant.

The burner .22 is of the whirlwind type, and is provided with a gas inlet pipe 28, a series of as outlets and a gas pilot pipe 29. The gas inlet pipe is secured to a leg 35 by means of a bracket 230 (Fig. 4). The burner 22 is attached to the combustion chamber 2! by means of swinging arms 3! secured to the bolts 48 of a water vaporizer tube and dirt trap assembly 4i. When supporting the burner the arms 3! extend under the burner 22 and are held from movement by means of bolts 32. The flow of gas to the burner may be regulated by a conventional magnetic valve 28b controlled by a wall thermostat (not shown).

The combustion chamber 2| is formed with a V-shaped groove into which a complemental V-shaped projection on the lower fume and heating drum 24 is adapted to fit as shown at joint 33. The groove and projection are highly machined to form a gas tight seal through which no leakage will occur. In additipnto the swing: ing arms M the fume and heating drum 24 and the combustion chamber 2| are held together by means of brackets or arms 34 slidabl-y mounted on legs 35 and provided with conventional means (not shown) for releasably supporting them at a selected elevation. The brackets 34 extend under part of the wall oi the combustion chamber- 2! and flush with the side of the burner. The brackets 34 includea lower lip 39 throughwhich the bolts 32 pass, thereby forming further support for the burner The lower fume and heating drum 24 is supported above the floor r foundation by means of four or more circular legs 35 which are adapted to screw into the lower part of the fume and heating drum outside the combustion chamber 2|. This circular fume or heating drum 24 includes an outer casing 451 and an inner wall 45, top wall 13-? a bo t m Wel it he p wall 3! extends beyond the inner wall and is provided with an opening 36 centrally of and J o e the centra hamb r 41- ,A h n best in Figs. 4 and 5, the top wall 31 and bottom wall 46 are provided with vertical spaces or cons i hi h a e eale Q a d ti vm v-n1i h e w th t e central ehe hhe 41: O- el f e o nin s eeeee te it h outer casin 44 to term a es er eee er n the si wa cf the enin it eeii e tee v s u e or hewes weye 5? hich cemmun eet h th centre ehemleer 4' an h u e s c Q 1i; 1.

Th upper me an he t n dr m 25 s ilarly c tr ted ha in a inner e htre t m-- her 41-, an outer annular space or ring 5Q, vertical openings 48, new tubes 52-, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower portion of the space 4'! is sealed off by closure means in the form of a circular baffle plate -53 bolted to the bottom wall 46. The scaling is insured by the provision of a gasket 54. Thus it will be seen that entrance into the central chamber 41 is had only through flow tubes 52. The top wall 37' is provided with a pipe fitting 55 so that a pipe 55 for conducting the products of combustion to the outside of the house may be attached,

Resting in the central opening 38 of the top wall portion 3'! of the lower fume and heating drum 24 and supported by means of a dished e re r f e 3 is a d pend ng eh ri ine be 23.

The vaporizing tube is threaded at its lower end and is provided with a'threaded circular collar 39 having bolt lugs as shown. Secured to the collar 39 by means of bolts 4% is a Water receptacle and dirt trap 4| also having cooperatiyely disposed bolt lugs. Clarnped between the collar 39 and trap 53! is an upwardly directed nipple or water spout 42. 4

Water is lead into the trap 4| by means of pipe 43 and the supply may be either manually or automatically controlled by means of an attachment in the heated room or rooms.

The abutting surfaces between casing 44 and casing :34, and wall 49 and wall 49 are highly machined and polished and form a very close and air-tight fit when secured together. It is to be noted that when thus secured there is no communication between the open spaces (48, 48'), and the confined spaces (41, 41' and 50, 5B). The aligned spaces 50, 58 comprise common vertical passageway means between passageways 52 and 52.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the fume and heating drum 25 is placed on top of drum 24 in an oifset relation (Fig. 2) so that the air to be heated will take a tortuous path and be exposed to more of the heated surfaces than if the spaces 48 and 48 and fiow tubes 52 and 52 were in alignment. It should be apparent, therefore, that the sectional view of Fig. 1 includes a section through the flow tubes 52 or" the lower fume and heating drum 24 and a section through the openings 48 of the upper fume and heatin den-m 25.

The extended portions of the Walls 55 and .43" cooperate with the top wall bafile 55 andhettom Wall 45 to form an intermediate er 53, and it is into this chamber that the water vapors flow and mix with the heated air. drums are held to ether by meansvoi .4 BREE 11W or bolts in which pass throu h the resneetire lugs 58, 53.

In the operation of the furnace, i s ghavvn from the bottom of casing 29, through openings 2%, and as indicated best by the arrows gs. 1 and 5, part of the air enters the combustion chamber 21 and part pass e ehs the outsid 9 the combustion chamber and up th ees-h he separate vertical pe ing o fiend-hits 4.8 hilt! i8- The products of. bust on terme en; the air passes throu h th urn r :3 911 1 through the combustion chamber 3 into the cen ral m r 41 wh nce their r d ve ted into the p way e the 119W whet 5.? 9. .1. into the annular sparse!) e the tes er fume and heatin drum .24 p int the ee ree endine annu ar spa .0 o he ups t d um 35; t? the openings of the transverse new tubes 53, into the centra amber 4 and es 9? e enin to w ence h y a e eenelue ee te the exterier 9 the house. These prodllg s .Of combustion heat the fl be 5? nd 5?. and other. el s of the fume and heating d m i4. A intimated by e ow th f e ir 9 he h at Passe t u h t nin 48 eflat d by t 9 ube 2 nd par of th ai s ik s the lower e t eh of the flow tube 5? and branches out into the openings r f th a r e e'peseesl ng the outer walls 44, 44 of the ifnme and heating drums 24, 25. This air passes in clgse contact with the walls 44, 4.4-, and the'walls of the openings 48, 48', absorbs the heat givenofiand thus heat P s up i t 7 991. 9! t ens 34113 u t manner a e n d- On f t e sa i nt .fe ter o th s inrenti h s t m nn n eh the hea ed a r is h midifi r! t a ont ll d emeunt e wat r anes This e eem i ed in th QHPWHA m nner.- Wate e ers he i t e chamber 4' b m ns ef e Water inle i e an fiews u ih e the u ter e e t 4 H r due t9 t hea recei d f om the encircling burner flame, it is yapppized, chan in in o a hea epe The rate? wh e r e n th a o z ng tube a ndieetee by e e where pon they strike the heme riete 53 of e ppe he he deem i5: irherether are div rt d in -9 the mhe 59 i e hich th rt ane ei-it site he sresihslfi is 5 opening 48', the freshly heated air picks up the water vapors and carries them into the room. By means of any conventional wall humidistat, the desired humidity can automatically be attained.

With the arrangement explained above, it can be seen that there is no possible chance of any of the fumes or products of combustion from the gas burner entering into the air being heated for the house or mixing with the water vapor. Thus, moisture is supplied to the freshly heated air giving a beneficial heat without danger of harmful contamination.

Another important advantage achieved by this invention is the simplicity of construction and the relatively few parts, all of which may be quickly and easily attached or removed. For example, by simply loosening bolts 32 and swinging the arms 3| aside the burner 22 may be removed, and by loosening the nuts on the bolts 40, the water spout 42 and dirt trap 4| may be taken off. The combustion chamber 2! and entire unit of combustion chamber and burner 22 may be removed by turning arms 3| to the side and by sliding or swinging the supporting brackets 34. The two fume and heating drums 24-25 may likewise be separated by removing the bolts 51.

Changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the principles of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what is claimed as novel and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a hot air furnace, the subcombination comprising a lower fume and heating drum; an upper fume and l'ieating drum; means for securing said drums together in superposed relation; said lower and upper drums being constructed and arranged to provide when so secured a lower central chamber, an upper central chamber, and an inte mediate chamber between the adjacent end portions of the drums, the upper central chamber having an open upper end and being provided with closure means at its lower end, and said lower and upper drums being also constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of lateral passageways extendingoutwardly from the respective central chambers, common vertical passa eway means connecting the outer ends of said lateral passageways, and a plurality of separate conduits extending vertically through said lower and upper drums and communicating respectively with spaces above and below said drums, and with each other through said intermediate chamber; a combustion chamber forming a continuation of said lower drum and communicating with said lower central chamber; and an upright water vaporizing tube having an open end portion communicating with the intermediate chamber and closing the upper end of the central chamber of the said lower drum, said vaporizing tube extending downwardly through said lower drum and into the combustion chamber.

2. In a hot air gas furnace having a casing, the subcombination comprising, a first fume and heating drum; means for supporting said drum above the bottom of the furnace casing; a second fume and heating drum superposed on the first-mentioned drum, said drums each having a central chamber, an outer ring portion defining an annular space, and flow tubes extending outwardly from the central chamber and communieating with the annular space, said flow tubes defining vertical open spaces intermediate the central chamber and the outer ring portion; a combustion chamber secured to the lower portion of the central chamber of the first fume and heating drum; a burner mounted within said combustion chamber; a water vaporizing tube having an open end portion closing the upper end of the central chamber of the first fume and heating drum, said tube extending downwardly through the central chamber of the first fume and heating drum into the combustion chamber and being closed at its lower end; and a baffle plate closing the lower portion of the central chamber of said second fume and heat-ing drum, said first and second fume and heating drums being constructed and arranged to form in intermediate chamber between said baflie plate and said water vaporizing tube, and said intermediate chamber being in open communication with the water vaporizing tube and the vertical open spaces defined by the now tubes of the first and second fume and heating drums.

3. A hot air gas furnace comprising an upright casing provided with openings at the bottom and top for the admission and discharge of air, respectively; a lower fume and heating drum supported within said casing above the bottom thereof; an upper fume and heating drum superposed on the lower drum, said drums each having a central chamber, an outer ring portion defining an annular space, and fiow tubes extending outwardly from the central chamber and communicating with the annular space, said flow tubes defining vertical open spaces intermediate the central chamber and the outer ring portion. the central chamber of said upper drum being closed at its lower end and having a reduced opening at its upper end for outlet of the products of combustion, and said lower and upper fume and heating drums being constructed and arranged to form an intermediate chamber between the closed lower end of the upper drum and the adjacent end of the lower drum; a combustion chamber secured beneath the lower drum and communicating with the central chamber thereof; a water vaporizing tube having an open end portion formed and arranged to close the upper end of the central chamber of the lower drum and extending downwardly through the combustion chamber, said tube having its open end portion in communication with the intermediate chamber and being closed at its lower end; an annular gas burner mounted within the combustion chamher and encircling the lower portion of the vaporiz ng tube; and means for continually supplying water to the lower portion of the vaporizing tube in controlled amounts.

4. In a hot air gas furnace having a casing, the subcombination comprising, a first fume and heating drum; means for supporting said drum above the bottom of the furnace casing; a second fume.and heating drum, said drums each having a central chamber, an outer ring portion defining an annular space, and an equal number of flow tubes extending outwardly from the central chamber and communicatin with the annular space, said flow tubes defining vertical open spaces intermediate the central chamber and the outer ring portion; said second fume and heating drum being superposed on the first-mentioned drum so that the flow tubes of said first fume and heating drum will be offset with respect to the fiow tubes of said second fume and heating drum; a combustion chamber secured to the lower portion of the central chamber of the r t u-me and heat n drum; a burner mounted within said combustion chamber; a water vaporizing tube having an open end portion closing the upper end of the central chamber of the first fume and heating drum, said tube extending downwardly through the central cham- ,ber of the first fume and heating drum into the combustion chamber and being closed ,at its lower end; and a baffle plate closing the lower portion of the central chamber of said second fume and heating drum, said first and second ,fume and heating .drums being constructed and arranged to form an intermediate chamber between said baflle plate andsaid water vaporizing tube, and said intermediate chamber being in open communication with the water vaporizing tube and the vertical open spaces defined by the flow tubesoi the first andsecond fumeandheating drums.

5. A heating appliance comprising, a casing having air openings therein; an upper fume and heating drum; a lower fume and heating drum; means for supporting said lower'drum within the casing, said heatingdrums each having a central chambenan'outerportion defining an-annue lar space, flow tubes extending outwardly from said-central (chamber and providing passageways communicating with said outer annular space, said ;fioW tubes defining vertical conduits intermediate the central chamber and the outer annular space and sealed therefrom; detachable means for securing the upper and lower heating drums together so that the flow tubes and verti- .cal conduits are in an-ofiset relation and so that the outer annular spaces are in communication; a combustion chamber detachably secured to the lower heating drum and communicating :with the lower portion-of the central chamber thereof; a burner secured within the lower end of the corn- :bustion chamber; a Water vaporizing tube open at its upper end closing the top portion of the central chamber of the lower fume and heating drum and extending downwardly and centrally of the combustion chamber and burner; a water receptacle detachably secured to the lower end of the vaporizing tube; a baffle plate closing the lower portion of the central chamber in the upper fume and heating drum, said upper and lower fume and heating drums being constructed and arranged to form an intermediate chamber between said baffle plate and said water vaporizing .tub e, said intermediate chamber being in open communication with the water vaporizing :tube vand the vertical conduits defined by said flow tubes; and a fume conduit pipe secured to the upper portion of the central chamber in said upper drum.

6. A heating appliance comprising a casing, said casing having cutout portions around its lower periphery, a fume and heating drum; means for supporting said drum within said casring, said fume and heating drum having an an- 8 :nular outer wall, an a u ar inner WET, an em ,nular intermediate wall spaced from said inner and vouter walls, a bottom portion connecting all of said walls, and a top portion connecting the intermediate wall and the inner wall, said-outer wall and said intermediate wall extending above the top portion and defining an outer space, said inner wall vdefining a central .chamber,..said inner and intermediate walls having a series of vertical openings, said top and bottom portions having a series of openings intermediate the outer space andicentral-chamber, partitionmembers connecting the openings in the inner and intermediate walls and forming communicating passageways between theouter space and central :chamben'said partition members also sealing on the openings-in the top and bottom portions from communication with :the openings in the inner and intermediate walls; a second fume and neating drum similarly constructed; a ba'flle plate across :the bottom portion of the central chamber in said second drum, said second fume and heating drum being superposed on said first-mentioned drum in inverted positionso that the outer spaces defined by said outer walls of said two .drums respectively and said intermediate walls are in communication with each other; a combustion chamber secured to the lower heating drum and communicating with the lower portion of the central chamber thereofa gas bur- .ner secured to the lower periphery of the combustion chamber; a water vaporizing tube open at its upper end closing the top portion of the lower fume and heating drum and extending downwardly and centrally of the central cham ber, combustion chamber and burner; a water receptacle secured to the lower end of said vaporizing tube, said first and second fume and heating drums being constructed and arranged to form an intermediate chamber between said bafile plate and said water vaporizing tube, ;and said intermediate chamber being in open communication with the water vaporizing tube and the openings in the top and bottom portions of said drums; a fume conduit pipe secured to the .top opening of the central chamber of the upper drum and adapted to extend to the exterior of a dwelling; means for supplying water to said water receptacle; means for supplying gas ,and air to said gas burner.

ALBERT E. MILLER. WALTER. 'H. KELLNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Murphy June 13 19 2 2 

